One city commissioner, however, is upset that the move conflicts with Birmingham's 2007 bistro ordinance.
Birmingham's bistro ordinance was back under the microscope Monday night, as city commissioners struggled with a request to temporarily enclose the outdoor dining space at the newly-opened Social Kitchen and Bar. In the end, commissioners approved a plan to install Isinglass curtains — similar to those used at Cafe Via — around Social Kitchen's outdooor dining area off Maple Road. However, the decision didn't come without a fight, with one commissioner voicing concerns over whether extending the outdoor dining season defeats the original intent of the city's 2007 bistro ordinance. The curtains only came before the commission after a hiccup with the Planning Department revealed the curtains weren't part of Social Kitchen's original plans. …
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-83.2136
Social Kitchen & Bar
225 E Maple Rd, Birmingham, MI
/articles/social-kitchen-to-extend-outdoor-dining-season-with-new-curtains
2125262
/locations/7903853
The Birmingham City Commission also authorized a planning and consulting firm to prepare a Complete Streets study on East Maple Road.
It was a busy night at the Birmingham City Commission meeting, with commissioners discussing potential changes to the bistro review process as well as authorizing Parson Brinckerhoff and LSL Planning to conduct a Complete Streets study for East Maple Road. Only have time for the quick hits? Here's a rundown of what happened during Monday's meeting: Commissioners voted to amend the city's bistro ordinance, allowing the City Commision to establish deadline and review guidelines for those looking to apply for one of the two bistro licenses the city issues each year. Planning Director Jana Ecker presented a tentative plan from the Planning Board, which involved all potential bistro applicants coming before the Planning Board at one time. The …
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-83.215532
Birmingham City Hall
151 Martin St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/quick-hits-city-moves-toward-changing-bistro-review-process
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/locations/5165653
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-83.20622
Adams & Maple Mobil
1065 E Maple Rd, Birmingham, MI
/articles/quick-hits-city-moves-toward-changing-bistro-review-process
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/locations/5165654
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-83.19638
E Maple Rd & S Eton St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/quick-hits-city-moves-toward-changing-bistro-review-process
/locations/5165655
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-83.216029
Shain Park
200 W Merrill St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/quick-hits-city-moves-toward-changing-bistro-review-process
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/locations/5165656
Executive sees spread of bistros as a factor in abrupt closing: 'The pie is only so big.'
The sudden closing of Forté, a fixture on South Old Woodward since 1995, leaves a highly visible vacancy on one of downtown's most active business strips. Diners, city officials and the building owner said today they were startled to learn that Tuesday night's meals were Forté's final servings. "I'm surprised they closed without announcing a new owner," said landlord Ted Fuller of Fuller Central Park Properties in Birmingham. "I thought they had made a deal." Mayor Gordon Rinschler said: "I was surprised, too, though good, well-managed restaurants go out of business all the time." Forté had felt economic strains that couldn't continue, according to George Wyckhuyse, chief operating officer of its owner, Epoch Restaurant Group in Novi. "We'…
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Forté
201 S Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI
/articles/abrupt-shutdown-of-fort-creates-downtown-gap
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/locations/4501559
Alan Stamm
5:20 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Our town's newest bistro gains added coolness cred from an afternoon visit today (10/17) by Kanye West, in town to see the Tigers clinch a World Series spot. He posed with those bold enough to ask, WDIV reports. http://bit.ly/WoMB48 more ›